Answer:
You can use regular expressions to convert several objects, such as an entire Standard Pipe section series, with a single entry.
Example
Conversion of, for example, PIPE6STD in Tekla to Pipe Std. 6'" | AISC 16 | -- in RFEM 6 should also work for all other cross-sections of the Pipe cross-section series.
In order to create a conversion for the entire Pipe cross-section series, the regular expression is structured as follows:
| Conversion from Tekla to RFEM 6 | Tekla | RFEM 6 |
| Regular Expression | PIPE(\d+)STD | Pipe Std. $1 AISC |
| Cross-Section Name | PIPE6STD | Pipe Std. 6 AISC |
| Cross-Section Name | PIPE8STD | Pipe Std. 8 AISC |
For the expression (\d+), you can enter any decimal number. (Pipe Std. 6, Pipe Std. 8,...)
The expression $1 refers to the entered decimal number. In the following image, the regular expression has been added to the Tekla conversion table.
If two decimal numbers are used, the expression $1 refers to the first number and $2 refers to the second number. The following table shows this.
| Conversion from Tekla to RFEM 6 | Tekla | RFEM 6 |
| Regular Expression | W(\d+)X(\d+) | W $1x$2 |
| Cross-Section Name | W12X22 | W 12x22 |
| Cross-Section Name | W14X38 | W 14x38 |
This article shows and explains possible problems when defining regular expressions.
The cross-section name 12*12 is not converted with the expression (\d+)*(\d+).
The asterisk * has a special meaning in regular expressions, and is therefore not interpreted as a simple character. To use the asterisk as a single character in a regular expression, you can write it with a backslash \ to invalidate its special meaning.
| Conversion from Tekla to RFEM 6 | Tekla | RFEM 6 |
| Regular Expression | (\d+)\*(\d+) | R_M1 $2/$1 |
| Cross-Section Name | 12*12 | R_M1 12/12 |
| Cross-Section Name | 5*10 | R_M1 5/10 |
The cross-section name HSS12*8*3/8 is not converted with the expression HSS(\d+)\*(\d+)\*(\d+).
If several similar regular expressions are used, this may result in the use of an incorrect regular expression (see the example in the image).
You can use superscript ^ to specify using a regular expression only if it is valid at the beginning of the material or cross-section name. The expression ^(\d+)\*(\d+) is thus no longer valid for the RHS section, because this section name does not start with a number (such as 400x400).
| Conversion from Tekla to RFEM 6 | Tekla | RFEM 6 |
| Regular Expression | ^(\d+)\*(\d+) | R_M1 $2/$1 |
| Cross-Section Name | 12*12 | R_M1 12/12 |
| Cross-Section Name | 10*10 | R_M1 10/10 |
| Regular Expression | Rect HSS(\d+)\*(\d+)\*(\d+) | Rect HSS $1x$2x$3 |
| Cross-Section Name | Rect HSS7*3*0.313 | Rect HSS 7x3x0.313 |
| Cross-Section Name | HSS4*2*0.250 | Rect HSS 4x2x0.250 |
How can I convert the material/cross-section from RFEM 6 regardless of the standard designation?
In contrast to RFEM 6, Revit and Tekla assign material and cross-section names regardless of the standards. Therefore, to convert, for example, an HP 8x36 cross-section in RFEM 6 into an HP 8x36 with no standard reference in Revit or Tekla, you can use the regular expression .*$ to ignore the standard designation in the name.
| Conversion from RFEM 6 to Tekla | RFEM 6 | Tekla |
| Regular Expression | HP\s(\d+)x(\d+).*$ | HP$1x$2 |
| Cross-Section Name | HP 8x36 AISC 16 | HP8X36 |
| Cross-Section Name | HP 8x36 AISC 15 | HP8X36 |
| Cross-Section Name | HP 8x36 AISC 14 | HP8X36 |
